Retina Care Specialists - Zeiss Cirrus™ HD-OCT

Retina Care Specialists focus in diseases
and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and
macula for patients in their Palm Beach
Gardens and Stuart offices.

Three areas of critical care include diabetic retinopathy,
detached and torn retina, and macular degeneration.

PRESS RELEASE
March 9, 2011

NEW TREATMENT SHOWS PROMISE FOR WET MACULAR DEGENERATION: PHASE III TRIAL SUBMITTED FOR FDA REVIEW

Stuart Woman Afflicted with Macular Degeneration in Both Eyes Regains Vision

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL- (March 9, 2011) - A new drug is showing promise to treat the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).The drug is VEGF Trap Eye by Regeneron. Recently, the first public presentation of the VEGF Trap Eye Phase III Trial results (VIEW-1 study) was given. Retina Care Specialists (www.retinacarespecialists.com) in Palm Beach Gardens is researching the efficacy and safety of this new drug, including waiting longer periods between treatments than with standard therapy.

Lois Otto is 76 years old and resides in Stuart, Fla. In March 2008, she noticed her vision was declining and she was having trouble reading. An examination revealed she was diagnosed with the wet form of macular degeneration in both eyes. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over age 60. "I was so frightened of going blind," said Otto.

"Developing wet macular degeneration in both eyes simultaneously can be devastating," said Adrian Laviña, MD, an ophthalmologist who practices at Retina Care Specialists. "Approximately only 10 percent of wet AMD patients we see in our practice have it in both eyes." Otto lives alone and works on a computer. She was extremely concerned that she might lose her vision and be unable to work, drive or take care of herself. Otto was referred to Dr. Laviña at Retina Care Specialists, who explained that there are medicines available that could possibly restore her vision.

Because Otto was diagnosed with AMD in both eyes, one eye, the left eye, would be treated with Lucentis injections, the first drug the Food and Drug Administration approved for AMD in 2006. Otto's right eye was eligible for the Regeneron VIEW 1 study, in which a drug called VEGF Trap-Eye is being tested. Otto's vision loss was worse in the right eye, which was the reason it was eligible to be treated in the VIEW 1 study. VEGF Trap-Eye is similar to Lucentis as it blocks a protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, which causes blood vessels to grow and leak into the macula. The consequence is permanent damage to light-sensitive retinal cells that deteriorate and create blind spots in central vision.

The results of the first year of the Regeneron VIEW 1study were released in February 2011. Within this trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either Lucentis or VEGF Trap-Eye.

After one year, approximately 95 percent of patients in each group maintained or improved their vision. This positive result concluded that after three monthly injections, patients could do as well receiving VEGF Trap-Eye every eight weeks as others did receiving Lucentis every four weeks. Thus, VEGF Trap-Eye can be given half as frequenly as Lucentis while achieving the same results and safety level.

Prior to Otto's first injection in the study eye, her vision was 20/80. Typically, at this stage of vision loss, people can read only headlines in a newspaper. Remarkably, Otto improved in both eyes within 10 days to 20/40 which is the level of vision required for driving. It was a double blind study, meaning no one, including the doctors, knows which drug a patient is receiving. Not all patients respond the same nor have the level of success Otto achieved.

Otto is thrilled and relieved that she has regained her vision and will be able to continue working and taking care of herself.

VEGF Trap-Eye for Central Vein Occlusion and Diabetic Macular Edema Regeneron has also announced that studies are showing promise that VEGF Trap-Eye is effective for the treatment of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). There are also ongoing trials for diabetic macular edema. Laser photocoagulation is the known treatment of choice in treatment of CRVO and diabetic macular edema. The laser prevents new vessel formation and may prevent further vision loss, but does not improve vision. Doctors at Retina Care Specialists are involved with the testing of VEGF Trap-Eye for both of these blinding retinal diseases and are noting positive results.

About Retina Care Specialists

Mark Michels, M.D., F.A.C.S., Adrian Laviña, M.D., and Paul Gallogly, M.D. of Retina Care Specialists are board certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologists who focus in diseases and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and macula.

Retina Care Specialists patients have the advantage of access to national collaborate drug trials in a community setting. With offices in Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart, each doctor brings his unique insight from years of investigational work to benefit patients every day.

Dr. Michels co-authored an article in the October 5, 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine that reported results from the clinical trial for Lucentis to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration. This medication has since been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of macular degeneration.

Media Contact - Debbie Liebross - Debbie@mdmediaconnection.com - 954-436-3644

3399 PGA Blvd., Suite 350
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 624-0099

Stuart Eye Institute
2090 SE Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34996
(772) 335-0089